Similar to the family Bathylagidae the larvae are slender, with straight gut extending beyond midpoint of body. Whereas head of Argentinidae larvae is relatively small, Bathylagidae larvae have moderate to large heads (Ahlstrom et al., 1984b).
Pattern of melanophores on ventral trunk is main pigmentation feature useful in identification of these families (Ahlstrom et al., 1984b). In Argentina sphyraena ventral blotches of pigmentation do not expand dorsally as in other argentinid species.
Table Osmeriformes
22 geographic zones